By Zhang Chi
章 池
F-35 fighter jets participate in the Arctic Challenge-2023 exercise on May 29.
5月29日，参加“北极挑战-2023”的F-35战斗机。
NATO countries held the Arctic Challenge 2023 joint military exercise in the Arctic region from May 29 to June 9. This is one of the largest air exercises conducted in Europe this year, and the exercise took place at the strategic Arctic stronghold near the Russian border, which triggered a strong reaction from Russia.
5月29日至6月9日，北约国家在北极地区举行“北极挑战-2023”联合军事演习。这是今年以来欧洲进行的最大规模空中演习之一，演习地点在靠近俄罗斯边境的北极战略要塞，引发俄罗斯强烈反应。
Large scale
演习规模大
The Arctic Challenge Exercise is held within the framework of Nordic cooperation and is conducted every two years since 2013. This year's exercise is the sixth of its kindand is co-hosted by Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The Finnish Air Force takes the lead in planning and directing the training activities. The venues of the exercise include Rovaniemi and Pirkkala in Finland, Luleå in Sweden and Åland in Norway.
“北极挑战”演习在北欧合作框架内举行，自2013年以来每两年举行一次，今年为第6次。今年的演习由挪威、瑞典和芬兰共同主办，芬兰空军牵头负责规划和领导训练活动。演习基地包括芬兰的罗瓦涅米和皮尔卡拉，以及瑞典的吕勒奥和挪威的奥兰德。
In terms of the scale, the exercise spans a long time and lasts for 12 days. Nearly 3,000 troops and 150 military aircraft such as fighter jets, early warning aircraft, transport aircraft and tanker aircraft from 14 countries including Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the US are involved in the exercise.
从演习规模看，此次演习时间跨度长，共持续12天，共有芬兰、瑞典、挪威、荷兰、比利时、英国、意大利、加拿大、法国、德国、瑞士、丹麦、捷克、美国14个国家的近3000名军人和150架军机参演，出动战斗机、预警机、运输机和加油机多种机型。
The subjects of the exercise include organizing and implementing air operations, executing tactical tasks, as well as commanding and controlling. Norway dispatched F-35 stealth fighter jets to test the coordination between the fourth-generation and the fifth-generation fighter jets. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of the Ford-class aircraft carrier, left Oslo, the capital of Norway, on May 29 for the Vesterålen in north Norway to participate in the exercise.
从演练内容看，演习课目包括组织和实施空中作战、执行战术任务和指挥控制等。挪威出动F-35隐形战斗机，在演习中测试第四代和第五代战斗机间的协同作战。美国福特级航空母舰首舰“福特”号于5月29日离开挪威首都奥斯陆，前往挪威北部西奥伦岛参演。
NATO also held several exercises at the same time to build momentum for the Arctic Challenge-2023 exercise. Finland and the US held a joint ground exercise with about 7,000 troops from May 26 to June 2. Exercise Saber Guardian 23 launched in Romania on May 29 involved 10,000 troops and 1,700 pieces of equipment from 13 countries. And more than 14,000 troops, fighter jets and helicopters from many NATO countries participated in the Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia from May 15 to 26.
从配合造势看，北约同期还举行了多场演习：一是5月26日至6月2日芬兰与美国举行联合地面演习，参演兵力约7000人；二是5月29日在罗马尼亚启动的北约“军刀卫士-2023”大规模军事演习，来自13个国家的1万名军人和1700件装备参演。5月15日至26日，北约“春季风暴”大型演习在爱沙尼亚举行，来自北约多个国家的1.4万多名军事人员以及战斗机和直升机等参演。
Clear strategic intention
战略意图明显
The outside world believes that NATO's large-scale air military exercise in the Arctic region has two main strategic intentions.
外界认为，北约兴师动众在北极地区举行大规模空中军事演习，主要有两大战略意图。
First, strengthening the deterrent pressure on Russia. Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the Russian National Defense magazine, believes that under the current military and political situation, any military exercises by Western countries are rehearsing potential combat operations against Russia in some way. In response, the Russian Navy conducted exercises in the Baltic Sea with subjects including attacking imaginary enemy ships and coastal targets.
强化对俄威慑施压。俄《国防》杂志主编伊戈尔·科罗特琴科认为，在当前军事政治形势下，西方国家任何军事演习，都是在以某种方式演练针对俄罗斯的潜在作战行动。作为回应，俄海军在波罗的海演练了打击假想敌舰艇和沿海目标等课目。
Second, competing for Arctic operational superiority. Foreign media commented that the Arctic has special significance as a potential battlefield for future military operations and a "resources bank" for many countries in the world considering the new reality. The main aim for NATO to exercise a whole set of operational planning decisions and actual action plans of troops is to ensure its military superiority in the Arctic region. Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said that conflicts in the Arctic are currently intensifyingas energy resources in the Arctic region are becoming more and more accessible due to climate change and the development of new technologies. The region has also become increasingly important geopolitically.
争夺北极作战优势。外媒评论称，考虑到新的现实，北极作为未来军事行动的潜在战场和世界多国的“资源库”具有特殊意义，北约演练一整套作战规划决策和部队实际行动方案，主要目的是确保在北极地区的军事优势。俄外交部无任所大使尼古拉·科尔丘诺夫表示，目前北极地区的冲突正在加剧，由于气候变化和新技术发展，北极地区能源资源变得越来越容易获得。在地缘政治上，该地区也变得越来越重要。
Intensified military confrontation
军事对抗加剧
Judging from the Arctic Challenge-2023 and other military exercises, The US-led NATO is trying to demonstrate internal cohesion, enhance deterrence against Russia, and strengthen control over the Arctic region through high-frequency, multi-directional, and large-scale joint military exercises. In the future, NATO may combine exercises, forward deployment, and military cooperation to maximize its own strategic interests.
从“北极挑战-2023”等军演情况看，以美国为首的北约力图通过高频次、多方向、大规模联合军事演习，着力展现内部凝聚力，增强对俄威慑，加强对极地的控制。未来，北约或将综合运用演习演训、前沿部署、军事合作等方式，实现自身战略利益最大化。
On the one hand, NATO has been frequently conducting joint military exercises. Three days after the end of the Arctic Challenge-2023 military exercise, 250 military aircraft from about 25 countries will participate in Exercise Air Defender 2023 under the command of Germany with about 10,000 troops involved. Although NATO stated that the exercise will mainly be carried out in German airspace, the information released by Germany showed that the scope of the exercise also includes the Baltic Sea region bordering Russia. NATO's series of large-scale military exercises with strong intentions to flex musclesare not only provocative to Russia but will also aggravate tensions in Europe.
一方面，打出联合军演“组合拳”。在“北极挑战-2023”军事演习结束3天后，约25个国家的250架军机将在德国指挥下参加“空中卫士-2023”演习，参演官兵总计约1万人。虽然北约表示演习主要在德国领空进行，但德国公布的信息显示，演习范围还包括与俄接壤的波罗的海地区。北约接连举行示强意味浓厚的大规模军事演习，不仅是对俄罗斯的挑衅，还将加剧欧洲紧张局势。
On the other hand, NATO has pressed the "accelerate button" of the Arctic game. The Arctic region has become a hot spot for major military powers to compete against each other in recent years. The Biden administration's Arctic policy emphasizes "military deterrence" against Russia, and the US military has rebuilt the 11th Airborne Division to carry out combat missions in the Arctic. As a response, Russia has introduced the latest Arctic policy and fine-tuned the previous version to highlight national and territorial security. Russia has also built and renovated hundreds of military facilities in the Arctic including six military bases, 19 airports, and 16 deep-water ports.
另一方面，按下极地博弈“加速键”。近年来，极地正在成为主要军事强国博弈对抗的“热地”。拜登政府北极政策强调对俄“军事威慑”，美军重建第11空降师专门遂行北极地区作战任务。而俄罗斯则出台了最新北极政策并对前版进行微调，突出国家和领土安全，还在北极新建和翻新了包括6个军事基地、19个机场、16个深水港在内的数百处军事基础设施。
Next, the U.S. and its NATO allies will rely on exercises such as Cold Response, Arctic Edge, Polar Bear and Arctic Challenge to continuously improve Arctic combat and integrated deterrence capabilities. Russia will also rely on the construction of the Arctic Strategic Command to strengthen its standing military forces in the Arctic. The game between the two sides in the Arctic region will further intensify.
下一步，美国及其北约盟国将以“寒冷反应”“北极边缘”“北极熊行动”“北极挑战”等演习为依托，不断提升极地实战化作战和一体化威慑能力。俄罗斯也将以北极战略司令部建设为依托，加强北极常备军事力量，双方在极地的博弈将加剧。
